03 November 2016 USCIS announces significant increase in filing fees set to take effect on December 23 The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on October 24, posted its new fee schedule in the Federal Register, which will go into effect on December 23. USCIS's operating budget relies almost entirely on fees paid by companies and individuals seeking immigration services and benefits. Although existing law requires USCIS to review fees every two years to determine whether additional funding is required so the USCIS operates efficiently, this is the first time in six years the agency's administration has decided to increase its fees. The new fees are attributed to a need to reflect the average 21% increase in the cost to process applications and petitions. Among other things, these include the costs associated with fraud detection and national security, customer service and case processing, and providing services without charge to refugee and asylum applicants and to other customers eligible for fee waivers or exemptions. Document ID: 2016-1854 |
